scene v	PART FIKST
mack
Behold me, Sire.     Mack the unfortunate 1
napoleon
War, General, ever has its ups and dowi^r
And you must take the better and the worse
As impish chance or destiny ordains.
Come near and warm you here.    A glowing fire
Is life on these depressing, mired, moist days
Of smitten leaves down-dropping clammily,
And toadstools like the putrid lungs of men.
(To his lieutenants)
Cause them to stand to right and left of me.
The Austrian officers arrange themselves as directed, and the body of
Austrians  now  file past  their Conqueror,   laying down their arms as tl
approach ; some with angry gestures and words, others in moody silence.
Listen, I pray you, Generals gathered here.
I tsll you frankly that I know not why
Your master wages this wild war with me.
I know not what he seeks by such injustice,
Unless to give me practice in my trade—
That of a soldier—whereto I was bred :
Deemed he my craft might slip from me, unplied ?
Let him now own me still a dab therein 1
mack
Permit me, your Imperial Majesty,
To speak one word in answer; which is tljis,
No war was wished for by my Emperor;
Russia constrained him to it!
napoleon
If that be,
You are no more a European power.—
I would point out to him that my resources
Are not confined to these my musters here;
My prisoners of war, in route for France,
Will see some marks of my resources there !
Two hundred thousand volunteers, right fit,
Will join my standards at a single nod,
And in six weeks prove soldiers to the bone.